Legends of Amacia: Mysteries of Tiamat
Into the Unknown

Three hours later, Hannibal,Selina, Nathanael, and Harry stood in the portal chamber ready to go. They weredressed for cool weather, armed with knives, pistols, and automatic rifles.They carried backpacks loaded with clothes, food, ammunition, and tents.Hannibal wielded an HK-91 with a telescopic scope. Harry carried with a MP-5sub machine gun while Selina packed an Uzi. Nathanael sported a 300-magnumWinchester sniper rifle slung over his pack. The portal lay open to the hangar,which was overgrown with thick forest growth.

“So Dan…what’re we walkinginto?” Hannibal asked as his team gathered around Dan at the portal controlconsole.

“The airfield is a wreck,” Dandeclared. “It looks like there was one hell of a battle there some years ago.All that’s left is craters and burned out equipment outside the hangar. Thehangar itself seems to be structurally sound, but is in a state of acceleratingdecay. The forest is trying to reclaim the hangar with some pretty large treesgrowing out of the main bay where we set up the camp with laser perimeters andsensor-operated machine pistols. Believe it or not, there are four vintagePT-47 Thunderbolt fighters still sitting in the hangar.”

“What’re they?” Selina asked.

“PT-47s are World War II eraAmerican-made prop fighter planes,” Hannibal explained. “What kind of conditionare they in?”

“They’re just rusting hulksnow,” Dan stated. “They flew their last sorties long ago. I seriously doubttheir engines would even turn over, much less get off the ground.”

“What about their guns?” Harryqueried.

“The planes didn’t have anykind of ammunition in them,” Dan answered. “Moreover, the guns themselves haverusted solid. I’m guessing it’s because of the exposure to the elements whenthe hangar ceiling collapsed. One of them actually was crushed beneath the roofwhen it fell in.”

“Okay,” Harry replied.

“Did you see anything out ofthe ordinary?” Hannibal asked.

“The place has the feel ofbeing abandoned,” Dan stated. “But we saw evidence of some recent activity inthe hangar and on the airfield. Heavy truck and jeep tracks were found outsidethat couldn’t be more than a few days old. Furthermore, I noticed inside thehangar that the dirt and debris on the floors had been brushed as if someonehad tried to cover up some kind of activity there. It was subtle, but there.”

“Hmmm,” Hannibal murmured,rubbing his chin with his hand. “The plot thickens. Anything else I should knowabout?”

“Just the bird-eating spidersthat have nested in the office space,” Dan stated. “The halls were full of weband we killed several of those spiders securing the office areas and hall.They’re about a third as big as the giant tarantulas of the rain forests.”

Nathanael’s eyebrow rose.“Bird-eaters…I didn’t think they existed that far south,” he commented.

“They don’t,” Hannibal stated.“But it doesn’t mean that someone didn’t accidentally or purposely introducethem into the area. We’ll be sure to watch for them. Did they show any sign ofmoving into the main hangar where you set up our camp?”

“No,” Dan replied. “They stay inthe darkness of the office block and halls. We didn’t replace any webs outside theoffice block that I saw.”

“Good,” Hannibal stated with anadded sigh. “I’m not particularly fond of big spiders after what we found herein Tiamat, but if they stay away from us, we’ll have nothing to worry about. Iseverything set on the other end?”

“Just waiting for you,Hannibal,” Dan reported. “The perimeter is set, but is down right now. You’llhave to arm it when you get there. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“No,” Hannibal replied, pattingDan on the shoulder. “Just pray…that’s all.”

“You got it,” Dan answeredwarmly.

As Dan explained everything tothe team, Mary and Dennis approached with Chris, Jerry, and Cynthia. Harrynoticed their approach and stepped off to say good-bye to Mary and Dennis. Heembraced his wife as Mary said, “Please come back to me.”

“I plan to, Mary,” Harryreplied. “I’ll always come for you and Dennis.” He hugged his son, saying, “Iwant you to watch out for your mother while I’m gone. Can you do that?”

Dennis nodded. “Could you bringme something back, dad?” he asked.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Harryreplied, chuckling. “But only if you’re a good boy.”

“I’ll be good,” Dennis chimed.“I promise.”

“I know you will,” Harry saidpleasantly, rubbing his hand through Dennis’ hair.

“If itisn’t too much trouble, could you please bring my husband back in one piece?”Mary asked Hannibal as she embraced him.

“I’ll bringhim back to you. I promise,” Hannibal replied, looking her in the eye.

“Thankyou,” Mary replied, hugging Hannibal again. “I’ll hold you to that.”

“I wouldn’texpect you to do otherwise,” Hannibal declared with a smile.

Withinminutes, they finished all the good-byes. Hannibal cast an eye at the portalwith a sober expression. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he looked back to histeam and those gathered in the portal chamber.

“What’swrong?” Selina asked, sensing a bit of hesitation and fear in him.

“This isalways the hardest part,” Hannibal declared, “taking that first step into theunknown. A very wise Chinese philosopher named Lao-Tzu said long ago that thejourney of a thousand miles starts with a single step...or something to thateffect. Our first step through the portal is going to move us ten thousandmiles in an instant and deposit us on the hitherto unknown Path of the Ancientsleading to Amacia. It takes us into unknown forests, cannibal territory, andinto the mountains in more than one way. The unknown is a bitter nemesis I faceevery day and at times, it becomes almost unbearable. But thank God I have goodfriends and family to help me bear that burden.”

Selinalatched onto Hannibal’s arm and kissed him on the cheek. “And we will be rightbeside you as you face this unknown. You no longer need to face it alone.”

“I know,”Hannibal murmured.

Nathanaelpatted Hannibal on the shoulder. “This Lao-Tzu was indeed a wise man, as youare, my son,” Nathanael stated. “A wise cat of my planet once said that the catthat is humble and faces fear conquers not only him or herself, but the worldaround them. The unknown is just another barrier to be crossed in the never-endingquest for knowledge and life. We’re with you, Hannibal, to whatever end thisunknown has in store for us.”

Harrygrabbed Hannibal’s right hand and forearm in a legionnaire’s handshake. “Let’sdo this,” Harry insisted. “I’m with you all the way.”

Hannibalsmiled, feeling his hesitation lift with the support of his teammates. “Well…asthey say, no guts not glory,” he declared. “Are you ready to face the greatunknown?” Hannibal asked his team, who answered yes. “Very well; once more intothe hideous maw of the unknown we go. Wish us luck. We’ll be in touch,” hecalled out to those being left behind. They gave a resounding good luck asHannibal, Nathanael, Harry and Selina went through the portal to the hangar inArgentina without another word.

“Godspeed,my friends,” Dan murmured as he shut the portal from his position at thecontrol console. “May the Lord guide your steps in the days to come.”

A resounding amen rose from the other as they left theportal chamber, going back to their research of the enigmatic mystery of Tiamatwhile Hannibal and his team plunged into the dark unknown in search of themysterious Path of the Ancients that’ll lead them into the wilds of the Amacianunderworld to face their destiny.